Anybody else scared to book Delta right now!

[eyeoreismyhero]

We're not flying until Sept., however Delta has some good fares out of Charlotte, NC right now buy I'm scared to book this far in advance with possibility of pilot strike, and the bankruptcy etc..

What are you thoughts?

 

[GoofyBaseballMom26]

I hope everything is ok. I've already purchased my tickets for August on Delta.

 

[princess pooh]

I'm scared too. It's too bad because I've been flying with them for a long time and I've never had any issues. They have some good fares now, but I've already had an airline go bankrupt on me and it was a hassle getting my money back. I'm working on using up my skymiles for now.

 

[CarolA]

The union is threatening strike.....I think the pilots are smarter then that. If they strike there won't be a job to come back to.

The unions did the same thing with the NW Flight Attendants.... The union "told" them to vote for a strike in support of the mechanics. The FA voted no.

Union leadership seems to live in a world where if the airlines fold, their members will just hop out and get NEW flying jobs. Pilots and FAs live in a real world where they need a job to put food on the table.

 

[Laura24]

CRAZY!!! I've had tickets since last April for our March trip and I can't tell you how many schedule changes there have been....I literally check every other day. Some days we have confirmed seats, some days we don't!! All of this and it's not even a direct flight from Newark. I originally had tickets for SONG which I loved flying on, but they were discontinued out of Newark as of Sept. so we were put on Delta flights. I never had such issues with any other airline in my prior flying experiences!

 

[goofy4tink]

Well, I just booked my dh and dd on Delta/Song flying home to Boston from Tampa in May...I had already booked myself. And I'm flying Delta/Song in mid-Oct. I realize they are going to change those flights many times before I fly. They always have. I do have to keep checking on them every day as I get to about 2 months before the trips. It's a pain and I'm anxious to see how it all shakes out this spring. Time will tell.

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

We bought our Song airfare way back in the summer our trip this May. So far they only changed our flight back - pushed it from 3 pm to 4 pm - but that's ok, just more time to spend at DTD. I would rather have them make our flight to FLA earlier since we are flying JFK-MCO at 7:30 pm and we don't get in until 10:43pm. Would like to get earlier flight, but difference in $$ is too much to justify the switch. Our seats have stayed the same by the way.

 

[kjs1976]

CarolA-
I believe this is the 3rd thread on this topic you've posted on! (I would know as I was an OP of one and am still praying for a happy outcome on this topic!) Thanks for still being friendly...I know some one here would let one know it for posting on the same subject.

Thanks for keeping things "positive" with your informative comments! I'm sticking with your frame of mind!

 

[vfb2girls]

CarolA, I too am grateful for your upbeat and happy attitude about the airline strikes. We have only two weeks to go before our Disney vacation and to be honest since we are flying NWA and have no other options except to fly this airline I am having a hard time letting myself get excited about this trip. I am afraid that I will get myself so pumped up only to be let down, and believe me it will be a huge letdown if my husband and myself do not get to go on this vacation. I have not only been planning this trip for two years but have had to budget and save for this trip which we all know is not exactly the easiest thing to do, so once again thanks for giving me some hope that I will be seeing the mouse in two weeks.

 

[Tiffany]

We're not flying until Sept., however Delta has some good fares out of Charlotte, NC right now buy I'm scared to book this far in advance with possibility of pilot strike, and the bankruptcy etc..

What are you thoughts?

Not scared just want to ensure we have the "toys" that we have become used to on Song and right now no one at Delta is saying that the planes will have the toys so we are waiting on Jet Blue.

 

[CarolA]

I don't think DL will have the "toys" any time soon. The Song jets with the toys are being moved to cross country flights so I wouldn't plan on seeing them anytime soon on the other DL flights.

Also, the Atlanta media which follows Delta VERY closely (it's a MAJOR employer) has not started beating the "strike" drum yet. I think that may mean that thier sources aren't telling them that a strike is close. (The paper was MUCH more concerned during the court proceedings this Spring...)

I don't claim to have a crystal ball, but I really think that the DL employees that I have met and known over the years have some common sense. I have also heard that the flight attendants have been putting a LOT of pressure on the pilots not to strike...

On NW, I don't have a clue. However, it would seem to me that it's the same kind of deal... the pilots should have learned from the mechanics.. NW is not going to deal and thier financial situation really doesn't give them room to deal. So if they strike, maybe NW will just give up and shut down and you can use the standby option for other airlines????

 

[JoeCathyAngelina]

I bought Song tickets for our April trip last August. Since then, I've checked everyday for flight changes and seat confirmation. I stopped counting the number of times they changed our flight times and I called to confirm our seats long ago. Not Smooth, Not Fast, Not Cheap!!!
Unless there are special reasons you can't drive from N.C. you should get in your car at 6 a.m. and check into your hotel at 6 p.m.. It's cheaper, less fustrating and just as fast as flying, consider driving from N.C..
Good Luck,
Joe

 

[boomhauer]

I could buy some great Delta fares for my July trip instead of waiting for Southwest. Honestly, it's not the bankruptcy or strike that are stopping me. It's the fact that EVERYONE I know that has purchased tickets through Delta recently, has had their flight changed. Some VERY drastically. I won't travel with them. I think it's just wrong that they do that, and on such a constant basis.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

I could buy some great Delta fares for my July trip instead of waiting for Southwest. Honestly, it's not the bankruptcy or strike that are stopping me. It's the fact that EVERYONE I know that has purchased tickets through Delta recently, has had their flight changed. Some VERY drastically. I won't travel with them. I think it's just wrong that they do that, and on such a constant basis.

It's not just Delta that does this. Every airline makes schedule and equipment changes. The more in advance you purchase tickets, the greater the chance of change. That's simply a fact of life with airlines now.

I have several flights scheduled on Delta in the coming months and I am not worried about them at all. As CarolA said, the pilots have more sense than the union does and if not, Delta should continue to operate. Several airlines have gone into bankruptcy and continued to fly. United just emerged from bankruptcy this month. I wouldn't lose any sleep over Delta.

 

[boomhauer]

It's not just Delta that does this. Every airline makes schedule and equipment changes. The more in advance you purchase tickets, the greater the chance of change. That's simply a fact of life with airlines now.

Maybe so. All I can go by is my past experience. The last 2 times I booked with Delta, they changed my flights, and didn't notify me either time.

I have flown on United, US Air numerous times, Delta, American, Jet Blue numerous times, and Southwest numerous times - The only one that ever changed my flight was Delta.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

I've had flight schedule and equipment changes on United, Spirit, American, Delta, and USAirways among others. Most of the time airlines don't notify you of each and every change until it's quite close to the travel date. Just makes sense. I've had flights on United and American change a dozen or more times between the date I purchased the ticket and the date of travel -- including schedule changes the travel day.

It happens.

 

[kaytieeldr]

eyeoreismyhero: I wouldn't worry about the potential pilot's strike, since the vote is in March. Even if they do strike, the issue will be long settled before your September flight. I also would not worry about Delta filing for bankruptcy, since the 'version' they used is to allow for reorganization, not going out of business.

LOVETHATMOUSE: That is genuinely good news, about your seats not changing despite numerous schedule adjustments. Congratulations.

Tiffany: Delta is realigning the aircraft with the 'toys' for flights of 1,750 miles or more. From Boston or Hartford to Orlando doesn't qualify so yes, you will either have to bring your own entertainment or wait for Jet Blue

bomhauer: I guess I'm the VERY rare exception. My flight from Las Vegas has not changed departure time at all, although we're now arriving in Boston five minutes later than when I originally booked. Of course, purchasing the ticket a mere five weeks in advance helped - any departure changes were set before that

 

[Simba's Mom]

I read this thread because up until today, I never had reason to notice Delta. But they just started flying into our local airport (before they only came within about 150 miles of us) so I was considering them. But after reading all the uncertainty, I think I'll pass for a while. But I am wondering-why would an airline considering bankruptcy expand into a new airport?

 

[canwegosoon]

I'm not worried...I just booked 4 tickets on a Dec. Flight. As to flights changing...I have always had other carriers do the same things...on United and US Airways. The only thing it really messes up for me is the rental car. My back up plan is driving to WDW...so I will not worry about it(We are DVC ...and I borrowed points from next year...but I made one night a cash ressie in case I have to drive)

 

[Tigger_Magic]

But I am wondering-why would an airline considering bankruptcy expand into a new airport?

Bankruptcy does not mean the airline is looking to cease operations. Most airline bankruptcies today are simply creditor protection while the airline reorganizes/restructures to hopefully operate more efficiently and economically. During United's bankruptcy, they added new routes. It's not that unusual. Too often people hear bankruptcy and incorrectly assume it means the airline is going out of business.